You may have heard the phrase “if only these walls could talk,” but what about “if only these walls could make music?”
It is a question that I did not consider until after hearing the newest album from Hank Midnight titled “Motel.” Midnight created his second album with the concept of the day in the life of a motel in mind. Each songs shares the stories from various imagined guests, inanimate objects and the space that occupies a motel. For Midnight, creating this conceptual album has resulted in a deeper connection to the human spirit and living in the moment.
“Motel” is comprised of 18 tracks, each one slightly different from the last. “The Mirror” starts the album off, and reminds me of early songs from Arcade Fire. Like most of Midnight’s songs, “Mirror” is minimal, with limited instruments and only a light echo of background voices. On another side of the spectrum, “How We Want It,” is more upbeat, achieved through a melody that sounds reminiscent of a retro video game. In addition, Midnight incorporates instrumental tracks such as “TV Box/Static.” Just reading the name of that song can already give you a clue as to what it will sound like. Simple songs such as this have allowed Midnight to bring life to forgotten objects and familiar sounds.
The album as a whole is relatively minimal. You should not expect great changes in tempo or epic guitar solos. However, what Midnight does achieve in “Motel” is personifying the experience of staying in an unfamiliar place. Most stays I have had at motels are just brief interjections in a more exciting grand adventure that I am on. Midnight has explored the quiet mysteriousness that surrounds a motel and the lives of its visitors and permanent occupants.
Check out the single “The Mirror.” To keep up to date with Hank Midnight and upcoming releases, visit his website.
